Where to see Kenya’s elephants

Kenya has always been one of the top safari destinations in Africa. It has it all: wonderful people and culture, stunning scenery, good accessibility, and incredible wildlife. In many of the national parks and reserves, you have a great chance of seeing the ‘Big 5’ in one game drive.

With diminishing numbers, elephants are one of the most sought after mammals to see on safari. While some areas can get busy in high season, we have hand-picked some of the best areas and camps to see these beautiful creatures, while keeping you off the beaten track.

5 Best places to see Kenya’s elephants:

1. Amboseli National Park

In the south east of Kenya is Amboseli National Park. With Mount Kilimanjaro as a back drop, it doesn’t get much more beautiful than this. The dry plains of Amboseli are fed by the glacial melt waters of Kilimanjaro, which provides a much-needed life source.

This national park is close to both Nairobi and the coast making travel logistics easy. Elephants here are plentiful and easily spotted on the open plains. It is great fun to watch them bathe in the waterholes.

Tortilis Camp is a lovely base in Amboseli. It is located on a small hill in a private concession with great views over the plains and towards Mt Kilimanjaro.

Game drive at Tortilis Camp

2. The Chyulu Hills

To the east of Amboseli are the Chyulu Hills, extraordinary volcanic peaks covered in a beautiful evergreen forest which forms a great harbour for wildlife.

But as the lava is fairly recent and doesn’t hold water, game descends to the plains of both Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks during the day. The elephants here are well known for congregating in large breeding herds and for having impressively large tusks.

Ol Donyo Lodge is a wonderfully luxurious camp here and a great base from which to explore the area.

Tuskers at Ol Donyo Lodge

3. Samburu National Park

Samburu National Park is where you will find elephants in big breeding herds and where many are well habituated to vehicles.

With the headquarters for Save the Elephants in the park researchers are with elephants most of the day, and they have become familiar with vehicles. As a result, guests can experience an amazing encounter with these impressive animals which tend to be found in big breeding herds here.

Elephant Watch Camp is a wonderful camp to base yourself while in Samburu. When the acacia trees fruit after the rain you don’t even need to leave your room to spot elephant as they wander through camp picking the fallen fruit.

Large elephant herd at Elephant Watch Camp

4. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Covering over 62,000 acres of wilderness in northern Kenya, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is one of the most important wildlife reserves in Africa. While it’s growing rhino population is probably the most famous of its conservation success stories, there are good populations of elephant here too, with up to 500 individuals present at particular times of the year. A handful of comfortable lodges, each offering a range of safari activities, ensure guests can enjoy this superb wildlife area at its very best.

Lewa Wilderness in the shadows of Mount Kenya

5. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Many Aardvark Safaris’ clients passing through Nairobi will visit the elephant orphanage founded by David’s widow Daphne. The orphanage, whose aim is to release elephants back into the wild, is just one of the projects run by the trust which also supports anti-poaching units, mobile vets, habitat rescue, conservation initiatives and community outreach. If you foster an elephant (approximately $50) you can visit by appointment at 5 pm when the elephants return to the stockades for the night.

Nglai, rescued from a well and recovering at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Any questions?

If you’ve got this far and not found an answer to a question you have that we should have included, please ask in the comments section below, or pop us an email. We’ll be sure to reply and may amend the article to include our answer.

What next?

We would be delighted to help you plan a holiday, or answer any questions if you’re at an earlier stage. Our team of experts have travelled widely throughout Africa. They can offer expert advice on every type of safari from family and beach holidays to riding and primate safaris. If you would like to talk to someone who has been there and done it, please just send us an email or give us a call.

More about the Author

Charlotte arrived at Aardvark Safaris as the fourth employee when the company was just a year old. Fifteen years on she still thanks her lucky stars that the day she decided to return to work coincided with Aardvark’s advertisement in the local newspaper.

Charlotte arrived at Aardvark Safaris as the fourth employee when the company was just a year old. Fifteen years on she still thanks her lucky stars that the day she decided to return to work coincided with Aardvark’s advertisement in the local newspaper. Her degree in town planning has little relevance to safaris, but her pre-children career in PR and marketing, including an exciting stint working in Hong Kong, has been put to good use in Aardvark’s marketing department.

A keen horsewoman Charlotte rides and competes regularly. This year’s equestrian challenge has been learning to ride side saddle – she’s now reasonably accomplished and able to hold her own competing against those riding astride. Away from horses, she enjoys tennis and skiing and spends a fair amount of time keeping (trying to) her teenage sons in order.

She first visited Africa on honeymoon in Kenya, when a love of Africa (and hopefully her husband) was born. She has since visited Botswana, Namibia and the Seychelles. Charlotte has also tested a number of our trips with her husband and aforementioned teenagers. So far they have sampled Mauritius, South Africa (twice), Kenya, Zambia and Malawi so she is a great person to talk to if wanting to travel to Africa with children. Her desire for comfort in unspoilt surroundings makes her a good yardstick when planning a safari for many of our clients. Her close attention to detail ensures our clients never leave home unprepared.

Favourite African experience

Has to be my very first educational trip with Aardvark which was a mobile camping safari in the Okavango Delta. I’d foolishly claimed that camping wasn’t my thing when I first arrived in the office so sending me on this utterly wonderful mobile trip was the perfect way to prove me wrong. Uncharted Africa run the Rolls Royce of mobile camping safaris, with huge tents, cast iron beds, proper linen, glorious food and a drinks cabinet to rival any you’d find in a five star hotel. The guiding was superb, the wildlife prolific and I came back completely hooked.

Favourite animal

Nothing beats giraffe for the elegant, graceful way they roam the plains – I could watch them for hours. I’ve been lucky enough to spend a night at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi where these gorgeous creatures poke their heads through the windows to be fed cattle nuts – maybe not true safari, but one of my real African highlights none-the-less.

Favourite three camps

It’s a private house rather than safari camp that is currently top of my favourite list. Chongwe River House which, from the outside, looks similar to something Fred Flintsone might have built, is quite extraordinary. Step inside and you’re transported into a safari wonderland: the beautifully appointed interior opens to a garden and pool deck with views over the river where all manner of game comes to drink. The private boat is great for river cruises, there are picnics on sandy islands amid the Zambezi River, and a private vehicle and guide to explore the park. Fabulous for a family or groups of friends travelling together.

Rekero Camp in the Masai Mara, which has long been an Aardvark favourite, is high up on my personal list too. Our boys, who at the time of my visit were nine and 11, were treated like kings by the Masai guides – they left with bow and arrows, Masai clubs, a smattering of Swahili, and memories that will last a life time.

Ant’s Nest in South Africa was so good we’d booked to return before we left. There’s horse riding, cycling, walking, swimming, and great game – but it’s the other bits that make it so special. The kids squealing with delight as they galloped up and down the grass runway, being given a machete (to their mother’s alarm) and going out to help clear a new road, riding pillion behind owner and guide extraordinaire Ant Baber to check on his Sable herd. I could go on and on, but words will never do justice to this magical lodge.

Most of my time at Aardvark is spent on marketing activities, but when time permits, nothing gives me greater pleasure than organising a family safari. I know from personal experience how wonderful it is to show children this beautiful continent and if you get the trip right, safari is one of the best family holidays ever. As a mother I know what it’s like to worry about the little things – will we be safe, what happens if someone’s ill - and am always happy to chat for as long as it takes to make sure we get exactly the right trip for you.

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